Ticks & Lyme Disease in Wisconsin: Alpha-Gal Risks in Price County

For more, seePrice County hunting guide.

andOur 48-hour Price County itinerary

Last updated: May 2026

ByPrice County Fun Editorial Team| Price County, Wisconsin

A Newsmax segment in late May 2026 drew attention to a real health concern affecting the Midwest — but wrapped it in claims that deserve a closer look. Here’s what Price County residents actually need to know about ticks, Alpha-Gal Syndrome, and how to protect yourself this season.

What the Segment Got Right: Alpha-Gal Is Real and Rising

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a legitimate, increasingly recognized condition. It’s an allergy to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose — a sugar molecule found in most mammals but not in humans. When a lone star tick bites you, it can sensitize your immune system to alpha-gal, and from that point on, eating red meat (beef, pork, lamb, venison) can trigger a delayed allergic reaction: hives, gastrointestinal distress, swelling, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis. The 3-to-6-hour delay between eating and reaction makes it easy to miss the connection.

The condition is serious for those who have it. Ashley McCarty, a Missouri cattle farmer featured in the Newsmax segment, has lived with AGS since 1993 , before it even had a name. She described how it affects “every aspect of daily life beyond just red meat,” including mammal byproducts hidden in everyday products. That’s accurate, and it’s why AGS deserves real attention.

Dr. Scott Commins, Vice Chief for Allergy and Immunology at UNC School of Medicine and one of the leading AGS researchers in the country, confirmed the rise is real and attributed it to the expanding range of lone star ticks and growing white-tailed deer populations that carry them.

What the Segment Got Wrong: The GMO Tick Claim

The host repeatedly tied Alpha-Gal’s rise to Bill Gates investing “$7.6 million in genetically engineered ticks” and suggested a connection between GMO ticks, climate activism, and lab-grown meat , implying the rise in Alpha-Gal cases might be deliberate or engineered.

Here’s the reality: the $7.6 million Gates-funded project through Target Malaria involvesMosquitoes, not ticks. It researches gene drive technology to reduce malaria-carrying mosquito populations in sub-Saharan Africa. No GMO tick program exists, and no credible evidence links Alpha-Gal Syndrome to engineered ticks.

The “10,000% increase since 2013” figure is misleading without context. As Dr. Commins pointed out on the segment, the apparent explosion is partly a surveillance artifact:There was no diagnostic test for Alpha-Gal until 2012.Before that, cases were invisible. A disease that can’t be diagnosed can’t be counted, so the curve looks steeper than the actual spread.

What This Means for Price County

Price County sits in Wisconsin’s northern tick country. Blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) carrying Lyme disease are the primary concern here. Wisconsin reports roughly 2,500 to 6,400+ Lyme cases annually, with numbers rising sharply — 6,379 cases were reported in 2023 alone, and northern counties see some of the highest per-capita rates in the state.

Lone star ticks , the ones that carry Alpha-Gal , areNot established in most of Wisconsin— only Dane County currently meets the CDC threshold for established populations. However, CDC 2025 surveillance data classifies 27 Wisconsin counties including Price County as “reported,” meaning lone star ticks have been documented there even if breeding populations haven’t formed. For Price County specifically, the Alpha-Gal risk is low but not zero: lone star ticks have been documented in the county, and more can hitch a ride on a deer or migratory bird and show up anywhere.

The tick-borne diseases thatActuallyaffect Price County residents:

• Lyme disease, the most common, transmitted by blacklegged ticks. Flu-like symptoms, bull’s-eye rash, potential long-term joint and neurological issues if untreated.
• Anaplasmosis, also blacklegged tick-borne, causing fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Cases rising in Wisconsin.
• Babesiosis, a parasitic infection from blacklegged ticks, more common in older adults and immunocompromised people.
• Ehrlichiosis, less common in Wisconsin but increasing, with symptoms similar to anaplasmosis.

Where You’re Most Likely to Encounter Ticks in Price County

Tick exposure is highest in wooded areas, tall grass, and shrubby edges , which describes a lot of Price County. Specific hotspots:

• Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, miles of hiking trails including North Country Trail segments, prime tick habitat with leaf litter and shaded understory
• Price County ATV/UTV trail system, trails cut through brush and tall grass where ticks quest for hosts
• Lakeshore edges. Solberg Lake, Butternut Lake, Long Lake, and the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage all have brushy shorelines where anglers walk to fishing spots
• Public hunting lands, extensive county and state forest lands with tall grass and deer trails

If you’re hiking theFishing shores, ridingATV trails, orHunting public landthis season, tick checks aren’t optional , they’re essential After a day on the water,Ripsaw Saloonserves one of the best fish frys in the county.

Affordable Tick Repellent That Actually Works

You don’t need to spend a fortune to protect yourself. Here’s what works, ranked by effectiveness, with real prices from major retailers:

Top Tier: DEET (20-30%)

The gold standard for tick repellent, recommended by the EPA and CDC. Apply to exposed skin and clothing.

• Off! Deep Woods(25% DEET, 6 oz). $7 at Walmart and Target
• Sawyer Controlled Release(20% DEET, 4 oz). $8, microencapsulated formula lasts 8+ hours
• Repel 100(98% DEET, 1 oz). $5 for extreme-exposure situations; overkill for casual hiking

Tip: 20-30% DEET is the sweet spot. Higher concentrations last longer but don’t repel better. Lower concentrations need more frequent reapplication.

Runner-Up: Picaridin (20%)

Comparable effectiveness to DEET against ticks, with less odor and no plastic-damaging residue. Better for daily use if you dislike DEET’s feel and smell.

• Sawyer Picaridin(20%, 4 oz lotion). $8
• Cutter Advanced(20%, 6 oz spray). $7
• OFF! Clean Feel(10% picaridin, 5.5 oz). $6 at most retailers; lower concentration needs reapplying every 4 hours

Best for Clothing: Permethrin

Permethrin isn’t a skin repellent , it’s a clothing treatment that kills ticks on contact. It bonds to fabric and remains effective through 6 washings or 42 days of outdoor exposure. This is what serious outdoorspeople use in combination with skin repellent.

• Sawyer Permethrin Clothing Repellent(0.5%, 24 oz spray). $15 at Walmart, Fleet Farm, and Amazon. One bottle treats a full outfit (pants, shirt, socks, hat) multiple times.
• Insect Shield pre-treated clothing. $40-$80 for treated pants, shirts, or buffs. Effective through 70 washings.

Budget DIY approach:Buy the $15 Sawyer 24 oz bottle. Lay your hiking clothes on a plastic sheet outdoors, spray until damp (not soaking), let dry 2-4 hours. One bottle treats roughly 4 complete outfits. That’s under $4 per full-body treatment , cheaper than copays for a tick-borne illness.

Natural Option: Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)

The only plant-based repellent with EPA-registered tick protection claims. Not as consistently effective as DEET or picaridin against blacklegged ticks, but better than nothing if you prefer to avoid synthetics.

• Repel Lemon Eucalyptus(30% OLE, 4 oz). $7 at Walmart and Target

Important: “Lemon eucalyptus essential oil” is NOT the same as OLE. The EPA-registered product contains PMD (para-menthane-3,8-diol), the synthesized active compound. Pure essential oil is not proven effective.

What to Skip

Ultrasonic tick repellers, vitamin B1 supplements, and “natural” sprays without EPA registration have no peer-reviewed evidence of effectiveness against ticks. Save your money.

Tick Checks: The Free Protection Nobody Skips

No repellent is 100% effective. A full-body tick check after every outdoor activity remains your best defense. Here’s the routine:

1. Before you go inside, do a visual check of clothing. Ticks crawl upward, so check waistbands, sock lines, and behind knees first.
2. Shower within 2 hours, the CDC says showering within 2 hours of coming indoors significantly reduces Lyme disease risk. It washes off unattached ticks and makes it easier to do a thorough check.
3. Full-body check, use a mirror or partner. Pay attention to: scalp and hairline, behind ears, armpits, belly button, behind knees, groin area, and between toes. Ticks prefer warm, hidden spots.
4. Check your gear, ticks can ride in on backpacks, jackets, and even your dog. Tumble-dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

How to Remove a Tick (Do It Right)

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers , grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist, jerk, or squeeze the body.
3. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
4. Save the tick in a sealed bag if you want it identified later (the Wisconsin Department of Health Services has free tick identification).
5. Never usepetroleum jelly, nail polish, a lit match, or essential oils , these methods don’t work and may cause the tick to regurgitate into the wound, increasing disease risk.

When to See a Doctor

See a healthcare provider promptly if you develop any of these within 30 days of a tick bite:

• A bull’s-eye rash or expanding red area (Lyme disease , requires antibiotics)
• Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint aches
• Unexplained rash of any kind
• Flu-like symptoms during tick season (May through October)

If you’ve been diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (or suspect it), seek emergency care for any signs of anaphylaxis after consuming mammal products: throat swelling, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, or a drop in blood pressure.

Wisconsin residents can submit tick photos for free identification through theUniversity of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab.

The Bottom Line

Alpha-Gal Syndrome is a real and growing concern, particularly in southern and central Wisconsin where lone star ticks are expanding their range. For Price County, the bigger everyday risk remains Lyme disease from blacklegged ticks , and that risk is manageable with the right repellent, clothing treatment, and post-outdoor tick checks.

Avoid the noise about engineered ticks and conspiracy theories. The science is clear: tick populations are expanding because deer populations are growing and winters are milder. The response is the same whether you believe in climate change or not , protect yourself with proven repellents, treat your clothes with permethrin, and check for ticks after every outing in the woods.

Free Fishing Weekend is June 6-7, 2026, a great time to get outside, but bring the repellent.See our full guide for license-free fishing.

By Price County Fun Editorial Team | Last updated June 1, 2026

See also: our complete Price County fishing guide

See also: our ATV trail guide for Price County

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin

See also: our Price County hiking trail guide

See also: our complete Price County dining guide

Frequently Asked Questions